Since launching in April, it’s been a big year for YuLife South Africa. We’ve gone from one high to another as we hosted our very first webinar, published our first e-book, and brought brand-new offerings to our gamified wellbeing app.We also launched Critical Illness cover to support employees when they need it most. And to end the year off, we participated in the 2023 Topco Media Future of HR conference.Before we take a deep dive into the year’s top highlights, let’s start by bringing it back to where it all began: while YuLife has been leading the way in reimagining employee benefits since 2016, it was only April of this year that marked the official launch of YuLife in South Africa…Landing in South AfricaIn April 2023, YuLife arrived in South Africa, bringing its revolutionary approach to group insurance and employee wellbeing with it. Commenting on the launch, YuLife Co-Founder and Managing Director of YuLife South Africa, Jaco Oosthuizen, explained: “There has been a big shift toward health and wellbeing in the workplace. YuLife is launching in South Africa to offer companies an easy way to provide extra protection — we're looking forward to providing South African businesses and employees tangible value on an everyday basis in an accessible, engaging, and deliverable manner.”When the big day arrived, the YuLife South Africa team was joined in Johannesburg and Cape Town by old friends and new faces, as we all celebrated the exciting launch. Sammy Rubin, YuLife Co-Founder and CEO, remarked: ‘Today is a big milestone for YuLife, as we take the next step toward building a global financial services business whose offering inspire people to live healthier and happier lives.’Our launch in South Africa was also picked up by a range of national and global outlets, including Fintech Financial News, Soweto Life, and Stuff. It’s safe to say we weren’t the only ones buzzing about the launch.Receiving our B Corp™ statusIn June, just a couple of months after launching in South Africa, we were excited to be part of YuLife’s global recognition as a B Corp™. B Corps — or ‘beneficial corporations’ — are companies that notably benefit their communities while promoting a more sustainable and unified world. Receiving the B Corp™ status was a proud moment for everyone here at YuLife: only a select few companies are granted the title, after a detailed evaluation process. We are also the first-ever group risk insurance provider to join the B Corp™ movement, thanks to our ongoing mission to inspire a healthier and happier workplace and planet. Attending the Festival of Yu in London Over the summer, our South African team joined the whole YuCrew in London for the Festival of Yu. Held across two days, this festival saw 250 YuLife employees from across 15 different countries all gather together for a regenerative and action-packed getaway in the great outdoors. Seeing as we’re a remote-first company, it’s always a treat to get the whole team together!Teaming up with FoodForward SA for Mandala Day In honour of Mandela Day, our YuLife South Africa team joined forces with FoodForward South Africa to help them on their mission of giving back to those in need. To do our bit, we matched the donations of every YuLifer who donated their YuCoin to FoodForward South Africa on July 18. And, with a single donation holding the power to feed a person in need for two whole months, our YuLifers and YuCrew certainly came together to make an incredible difference. Upgrading and improving our appIn a bid to offer employees a hugely beneficial selection of wellbeing tools, we’re constantly striving to make the YuLife app better. This year we launched a new in-game puzzle for YuLifers: Yudoku. Wellbeing starts in the mind, and with studies showing how puzzles like Sudoku can improve brain function, our new Yudoku puzzle is the perfect way for YuLifers to give their brain a daily self-care workout.Aside from the mental benefits, completing daily Yudoku puzzles also gives our YuLifers more chances to earn YuCoin, which they can then spend on the rewards they love. Win, win!Adding Critical Illness Cover In September, we added Critical Illness cover to our suite of group insurance products, to ensure employers can provide holistic financial protection for employees if they are diagnosed with a serious illness or condition. Complete with comprehensive cover for up to 3x an employee’s annual salary, plus unlimited payments for unrelated conditions, our latest insurance offering provides peace of mind and financial security when your employees need it most.Find out more about our Group Critical Illness policy here.Hosting our first webinarAs September drew to a close, we hosted our first-ever webinar all about how employers can build a solid wellbeing strategy in the workplace. YuLife’s own Jaco Oosthuizen was joined by Adcorp Group and Charisma Health Solutions to discuss the future of wellbeing in the workplace. This insightful discussion also addressed how employers can build trust that empowers others to be leaders, how to create a vulnerable space where employees can be their true, authentic selves, and how to foster an environment that celebrates each individual’s unique skills.You can catch up on the webinar here.Launching our first e-book In November, we launched our first e-book, How to Build a Winning SA Workforce, in a bid to educate more companies on what really matters to SA employees.Packed with survey insights from 700+ formally employed South Africans, alongside wisdom from thought leaders such as Vinolia Singh, Jaco Oosthuizen, and Erik Kruger, it offers great insights, expert tips on creating a positive workplace culture, plus information on the top trends shaping wellbeing in our business landscape.You can download the ebook for free here. Participating in the Future of HR conferenceAs we moved closer to the end of 2023, we were excited take part in this year's Future of HR Conference hosted by Topco Media. While attending the event, we learned so much about the challenges and goals of HR leaders across South Africa, and we’re incredibly excited to watch as the industry continues to grow and develop in 2024 and beyond – not only towards improved diversity and culture, but also towards integrating HR into businesses more than ever before.Overall, it’s been an incredible year for YuLife South Africa. We’re excited to see where 2024 takes us as we continue on our mission to revolutionise insurance and highlight the importance of employee wellbeing. About YuLife.YuLife is working to reimagine the insurance industry by protecting lives, rewarding living and inspiring life. We’re on a mission to transform traditional insurance into a life-enhancing experience each employee will value and use daily. How does it work? Our award-winning app uses behavioural science and game mechanics to reward your people for living well while offering protection in case of crisis. And with our top-rated employee assistance programme, your team gets access to mental, financial and social support, virtual GPs, nutritionists, life coaches and more to help them live their best lives.Because we believe that your employees should benefit from their insurance from day one — and that wellbeing should be accessible every day, for everyone.Request a demo for your team today.